Barcelona have surprisingly struggled in the last four games. The Blaugrana started the season on fire. Four wins out of four in the league with 14 goals scored meant the reigning champions had started from where they left off last term. But how quickly things change sometimes.
Failure to secure a win in the last four games, even losing against Leganes has caused many of the club faithful to have second thoughts about their chances this season. But should the fans entertain any worries about the team this season, based on recent results?
Here are five reasons not to:
Ernesto Valverde has proven he can get the job done
Not many gave the 54-year-old a chance to lead Barcelona to the double after taking over from Luis Enrique. But the former Espanyol and Athletic Club manager proved his doubters wrong by dominating La Liga last term and winning the Copa del Rey to complete the double.
It could be recalled that Barcelona almost set a new record by going unbeaten last season. It took the loss to Levante in the penultimate week of the campaign to end an unbeaten run that stretched to the beginning of the campaign. If there’s anyone that can get the side up and running again, it’s certainly Valverde.
Lionel Messi is in form
Oftentimes, all Barca needs to get ahead is for Lionel Messi to be in the mood. So far, the 31-year-old has shown he is up for the task at hand. With six goals scored in the league in eight games, it promises to be another fine season for both club and player.
It was he who equalised to prevent a defeat against Valencia in the most recent match, but that is by no means the best that will come from him this season. Already in double figures for goals and assists, Barca fans can rest assured that he will come good at the most important moments. The club will hardly witness the kind of monumental failure experienced last season in the Champions League where the team fell to a 3-0 defeat to Roma in Italy.
There’s enough squad depth to see the team through
The capitulation against Roma last season in a game that would’ve been won by Barcelona can’t and most probably won’t be repeated this season. Valverde has reinforced the midfield by adding Arthur and Arturo Vidal. Clement Lenglet is also an important addition in defence that will prove vital in the later part of the season.
Upfront, Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez are scoring goals. The trio has contributed a total of eight in eight La Liga games which is not a bad return. Sharing the workload means someone will always be on hand to chip in a goal or an assist when one is needed to win or kill off a game.
Other title contenders are not in form
It does help when your rivals are not having a good time. Their slip-ups provide an opportunity to stay in the title race even when results are not so good as has been the case lately. For example, despite losing one and drawing three of the last four games, Barca still sits second on the table. Valverde’s men have collected 15 points from eight matches and are second on the table behind leaders Sevilla with 16 points.
Both Real and Atletico Madrid are not having the best of times. The duo is struggling and that can only work in Barcelona’s favour.
Champions League results show this is just a temporary setback
The biggest disappointment at Camp Nou last season was the failure to progress in the Champions League. The club’s performance in the competition kind of put a stain on Valverde’s league double accomplishment. But he and the players were ignored in both European and FIFA Best awards.
Despite the fact that Barcelona were superior to Real Madrid in both the league and Copa competition, it is Los Blancos players that dominated the awards. It becomes understandable when Messi came out at the beginning of the season to state that Barca wants to win the Champions League this term.
The team captain has kept to his words, leading from the front. He has scored five of the club’s eight goals in the competition so far. At this rate, the Blaugranes are on course to top the group having won two out of two. Also, eight goals in two matches makes a statement of intent.
All of these point to one outcome: it will most likely be a good season. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about. It’s even too early to judge anyway. There’s still a lot to play for.
